Artificial airway interfaces and methods thereof

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention provide a device, system and method for providing a connector configured for connecting to an artificial airway for use in the treatment of respiratory conditions and in assisted respirations. In an embodiment of the invention, a connector configured for connecting to an artificial airway is provided. The connector configured for connecting to an artificial airway can include an inlet conduit configured to receive supplied respiratory gas, an outlet conduit configured to allow exhaled gas to exit to ambient during use, an artificial airway side conduit configured to couple to an artificial airway and a restrictor coupled with the outlet conduit. The restrictor coupled with the outlet conduit can be an outflow variable restrictor. The connector further can include a reducer coupled with the outlet conduit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of pending U.S.non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/326,094, filed on Dec. 1,2008, entitled ARTIFICIAL AIRWAY INTERFACES AND METHODS THEREOF, whichapplication claims benefit and priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/004,746, filed on Nov. 29, 2007; the entireteachings of all of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Statement of the Technical Field

The present invention relates to artificial airways and methodstherefor, for example, for use in the treatment of respiratoryconditions and in assisted respirations, and more particularly fornon-sealing gas delivery systems and more particularly to connectorsconfigured for connecting to an artificial airway.

2. Description of the Related Art

Artificial airways can be used when a patient requires breathingassistance, or has a deformity or an injury of the airway. Someconventional artificial airways include endotracheal tubes (ET),nasotracheal tubes and tracheotomy tubes. Such artificial airways can bedeployed to provide that a patient's airway remains open and to provideaccess to the lungs for managing or assisting the respiration of thepatient. These artificial airways can be used with or without mechanicalrespiratory ventilation or assistance.

One limitation created by the use of artificial airways is thatartificial airways bypass the body's normal upper respiratory tractwhere inhaled air is warmed and humidified. Exposure of the lowerrespiratory tract and lungs to dry and or cool air can cause damage tothe lower respiratory tract, the lungs and worsen the patient'srespiratory condition. The upper respiratory tract also serves as adefense mechanism for the lungs by capturing particles, allergens andpathogens, and preventing their entry into the lower airway.

When a patient is breathing through an artificial airway without theassistance of mechanical ventilation, one standard practice is to supplyheated humidity by attaching a Tee fitting to the tube adapter andadding a steady flow of aerosol or heated humidity over the opening ofthe artificial airway, which is particularly important when deliveringoxygen or other anhydrous gas. FIG. 1 illustrates the general format ofa convention tee connection 100 for delivery of gas through anartificial airway when a patient is breathing spontaneously. The inlet102 typically attaches to gas supply (not shown), the artificial airwayfitting is typically a 15 mm female fitting, and excess supply gas andexhaled breath from conduit 106 to/from the patient exits to the roomthrough outlet 104.

When the patient inhales using a conventional interface 100 (dependingon the inspiratory flow rate and the humidity flow rate) the inhaled gasmay be a mixture of room air and therapeutic air/oxygen. Room air maycontain particles including pathogens which bypass the normal upperairway. An extension tube may be placed on the exit outflow of the Teefitting to act as a reservoir for delivered gasses, but this increasesthe patient's dead air space, and still may not prevent room air fromentering the airway. The added dead space may also cause carbon dioxide(CO2) retention, which is undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art inrespect to artificial airway interfaces and provide a novel andnon-obvious device, system and method for providing artificial airwayinterfaces for use in the treatment of respiratory conditions and inassisted respirations. Embodiments of the present invention provide adevice, system and method for providing a connector configured forconnecting to an artificial airway for use in the treatment ofrespiratory conditions and in assisted respirations. In an embodiment ofthe invention, a connector configured for connecting to an artificialairway is provided. The connector configured for connecting to anartificial airway can include an inlet conduit configured to receivesupplied respiratory gas, an outlet conduit configured to allow exhaledgas to exit to ambient during use, an artificial airway side conduitconfigured to couple to an artificial airway and a restrictor coupledwith the outlet conduit. The restrictor coupled with the outlet conduitcan be an outflow variable restrictor. The connector further can includea reducer coupled with the outlet conduit.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspectsof the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elementsand combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It isto be understood that both the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only andare not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute partof this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred,it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to theprecise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional cross sectional view of a conventional teeconnector for delivering breathing gasses to an artificial airway;

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional perspective view of a tee connector forattachment to an artificial airway, which is constructed in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is cross-sectional view of the tee connector of FIG. 2, which isconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tee connector for attachment to anartificial airway that includes a sampling port with a coaxial fittingwhich is constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the tee connector of FIG. 4, whichis constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the tee connector of FIG. 4, which isconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tee connector for attachment to anartificial airway that includes a second general sensor port, which isconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the tee connector of FIG. 7, which isconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a tee connector for attachment to anartificial airway that includes a sampling port with an external sampleport fitting according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a is cross-sectional view of the tee connector of FIG. 9,which is constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing of a tee connector for attachment to anartificial airway that is connected to an artificial airway and amechanical respiratory source, the tee connector includes outflowrestrictors, which is constructed in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic drawing of a tee connector for attachment to anartificial airway that is connected to an artificial airway and amechanical respiratory source, the tee connector includes a ventilatedflap valve, which is constructed in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention; and,

FIGS. 13A-13G are schematic drawings that of the vented flap valve ofthe tee connectors illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, which are constructedin accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of a connector configured for connecting with an artificialairway are disclosed in the following description and related drawingsdirected to specific embodiments of a connector configured forconnecting with an artificial airway for use in the treatment ofrespiratory conditions and in assisted respirations. Alternateembodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or thescope of the connector configured for connecting with an artificialairway. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments ofconnector configured for connecting with an artificial airway will notbe described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure therelevant details of the connector configured for connecting with anartificial airway. Further, to facilitate an understanding of thedescription discussion of several terms used herein follows.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as“exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments ofthe artificial airway interface” does not require that all embodimentsof the artificial airway interface include the discussed feature,advantage or mode of operation. In the drawings and in the descriptionwhich follows, the term “proximal”, as is traditional will refer to theend of the device or apparatus which is closest to the individual orpatient, while the term “distal” will refer to the end of the device orapparatus which is furthest from the individual or patient.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a device, system and methodfor providing a connector configured for connecting to an artificialairway for use in the treatment of respiratory conditions and inassisted respirations. In an embodiment of the invention, a connectorconfigured for connecting to an artificial airway is provided. Theconnector configured for connecting to an artificial airway can includean inlet conduit configured to receive supplied respiratory gas, anoutlet conduit configured to allow exhaled gas to exit to ambient duringuse, an artificial airway side conduit configured to couple to anartificial airway and a restrictor coupled with the outlet conduit. Therestrictor coupled with the outlet conduit can be an outflow variablerestrictor. The connector further can include a reducer coupled with theoutlet conduit.

Referring to FIG. 2, a three-dimensional perspective view of aninterface (e.g., a tee connector) for attachment to an artificial airwaycan be constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. The artificial airway interface 200 can include an inlet 202,e.g., a supply gas inlet, an outlet conduit 204, e.g., an exhalationoutlet conduit and another conduit 206 for connection 208 to theartificial airway 210. FIG. 2 illustrates that the artificial airwayinterface 200 (e.g., a tee connector) can include a male inlet fitting212 for connecting to a gas/air supply (not shown). The tee 200 attachesto the artificial airway fitting 210 at connection 208, but has adifferent internal structure than the conventional tee connectorillustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of the artificial airway(tee) connector of FIG. 2 is illustrated. Instead of a straight Teeconfiguration as illustrated by the conventional Tee connector of FIG.1, the airway interface 200 can include an internal structure, e.g.,high flow orifice 214 and flow diverter wall 216 that redirects thebreathable gas downward towards the artificial airway 210. Inembodiments, the high flow orifice 214 directs the gas flow. The orifice214 can be smaller than the diameter of the artificial airway 210 thatcan assist with the formation of a gas jet or turbulence. The formationof a gas jet or turbulence in the breathable gas can have the advantageof generating an increase in airway pressure, which for some patientsacts to reduce the work of breathing. Higher flows of gas deliverytherapy can create a stronger jet. In embodiments, the outflow tract ofthe orifice can be configured to help promote the formation of a jet.

During expiration, the gas jet or turbulence can create some positiveairway pressure which can help the patient maintain open airways andhelp to empty the lungs for patients with emphysema. This action issimilar to positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) which is often usedin conjunction with mechanical ventilation. In addition, this actionalso can simulate pursed lipped breathing—a natural compensatorybreathing pattern often seen when patients have chronic obstructivepulmonary disease (COPD). Furthermore, the jet of respiratory gas alsocan flush the end respiratory exhalation to thus decrease the dead airspace, and can help to limit carbon dioxide retention in some patients.An extension to a distal arm of the interface, (the outflow tract) canbe added to increase dead air space if so desired.

By directing sufficient flow into the artificial airway 210, it ispossible to provide enough flow to completely satisfy the patient'sinspiratory flow rate and thereby avoid entrainment of room air todilute the delivered breathing gases. This important feature can providetwo benefits. First, it can give the clinician confidence that thepatient is breathing the gasses being delivered and not an unknownmixture of room air. Second, it also can serve to minimize thepossibility of air containments being inhaled. Patients with artificialairways often can be more vulnerable to containments causing infection.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tee connector for attachment to anartificial airway that includes a sampling port with a coaxial fitting.In embodiments, the artificial airway interface 400 can include acoaxial inlet 402 that can provide a first conduit or port 422 for highflow respiratory gasses and a second conduit or port 420 for gatheringpatient status information. Among the uses of the second conduit or port420 are to collect information about the patient's breathing, thepatient's physiologic status, and device status including the pressureof gases delivered. The second conduit or port 420 can be used to sampleexhaled gases such as end expiratory CO2 levels, pressure, temperature,or other variables.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the tee connector of FIG. 4, whichis constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the tee connector of FIG. 4.Similar to connector 200, connector 400 has an inlet conduit 402, anoutlet conduit 404, and an artificial airway conduit 406. FIG. 5illustrates that the artificial airway connector 400 can include asecond conduit or port 420. The second conduit or port 420 can beconnected to a pressure sensor (not shown) to provide monitoring of apatient's airway pressure and respiratory cycle. In embodiments, a portorifice 422 of second conduit or port 420 can be extended into theartificial airway fitting. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, first port 422has an inlet portion 408 that is parallel (i.e. coaxial) to inletconduit 402 and to second port 420. First port 422 also has an outletportion 414 with a first port outlet wall 416 that is parallel (i.e.coaxial) to artificial airway conduit 406. As can be understood fromFIG. 5, first port 422 acts as a diverter as it directs gas flow towardsartificial airway conduit 406 and not towards outlet conduit 404. Secondport 420 has a first side 418 and a second side defined by port orifice422. First side 418 can be located in inlet conduit 402 and second side422 can be located in artificial airway conduit 406. Therefore secondport 420, which was previously described as used for sampling, canconnect to the gas supply side via inlet conduit 402 in one directionand sense in a different direction (i.e. at second side 422 inartificial airway conduit 406). The use of an airway pressure sensor(not shown) can provide feedback to give the added advantage of allowingthe clinician to titrate the flow rate and achieve the desired airwaypressures. The airway pressure sensor also can provide information toassure the clinician that the flow rate is sufficient to meet theinspiratory demand or flow rate of the patient. By meeting inspiratorydemand there is a high-level of confidence that the patient breathesonly the delivered gas that is not diluted with room air duringinhalation, and that the patient is not breathing air with contaminants.

Information collected at the artificial airway interface 400 can be usedto help determine the optimal therapeutic requirements for gas deliveryor for patient monitoring. This gives information which in the presentstate of the art is not available for patients with artificial airwaysbreathing on their own via open airway systems. Information collected atthe airway interface may be used to control the flow rate during therespiratory cycle where the flow rate can change with inspiration andexpiration. The artificial airway interface 400 may also include a probeor a port for a probe. The probe may include sensors for oxygen, carbondioxide, or other gases, for pressure, temperature, collection ofexhaled breath condensate or for other measurements. One embodimentallows for use with optical fibers. Optical fibers have an advantage ofsmall size, such that these optical fibers do not greatly impederespiratory flow. Optical fibers can be used for a probe or inconjunction with one or more sensors. The probe may be displaced withinthe housing of the interface 400, or configured so that it may beadvanced into or even beyond the artificial airway.

In embodiments, an outflow arm is configured to fit to a connector. Thisconnector may be an extension that can act as a reservoir, which canincrease dead air space if desired. The interface can include one ormore swivels which allow directional motion for connection to theartificial airway and to the supply, probe and outlet ports.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tee connector for attachment to anartificial airway that includes a second general sensor port, which isconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.In embodiments, the artificial airway connector 700 can be configuredsimilar to the artificial airway connector 400 with the exception of asecond sensor port 722. In embodiments, the second sensor port 722 caninclude sensors for oxygen, carbon dioxide, or other gases, forpressure, temperature, collection of exhaled breath condensate or forother measurements. FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the tee connector of FIG.7, which illustrates that the artificial airway connector 700 can bewithout the coaxial measurement lumen 720. Similar to connector 400,connector 700 has an inlet conduit 702, an outlet conduit 704, and anartificial airway conduit 706. Similar to connector 400, connector 700has a first port with an inlet portion 708 and an outlet portion 714with a first port outlet wall 716. Measurement lumen 720 can have afirst side 718 and a second side that can be located in artificialairway conduit 706. This embodiment illustrates the ability to have atleast two different sampling ports (i.e. measurement lumen 720 andsecond sensor port 722). Second sensor port 722 further can haveconnecting locations 724 and 726.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a tee connector for attachment to anartificial airway that includes a sampling port with an external sampleport fitting according to one embodiment of the invention. Similar toconnector 400, connector 900 has an inlet conduit 902, an outlet conduit904, and an artificial airway conduit 906. In embodiments, the externalsample port fitting 918 is located external to the artificial airwayinterface 900. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the tee connector ofFIG. 9 and illustrates another configuration of an artificial airwayinterface 900 in which the probe attachment port 920 is on the outsideof the artificial airway interface 900 to collect information about thepatients breathing, the patients physiologic status, and device status.A probe may be used to sample exhaled gases such as end expiratory CO2levels, pressure, temperature, or other variables for artificialairways.

FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing of a tee connector for attachment to anartificial airway that is connected to an artificial airway and amechanical respiratory source, the tee connector includes outflowrestrictors, which are constructed in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. Interface 1100 is shown with a ventilated flapvalve assembly 1110. A reducer 1108 is shown in FIG. 11 which will allowconnection to standard size fittings and tube extensions. The vent ofthe valve assembly 1110 is shown in the open (vented flap not in use)position in the illustration 1122 in FIG. 12C and closed in the instance1120 in FIG. 12B. The vent opening can be configured to be larger thanthe area of the cross section of the artificial airway 1112 so that itdoes not create additional resistance to expiration even with theadditional flow of the high flow therapy.

FIG. 12A is a schematic drawing of a tee connector for attachment to anartificial airway that is connected to an artificial airway and amechanical respiratory source, the tee connector includes a ventilatedflap valve, which is constructed in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 13A-13G are schematic drawings of the vented flap valve of the teeconnectors illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. The vented flap valve 1130 isshown in its fixed position in FIG. 13A, and arrows 1131 show the ventedflap valve position in use during expiration and gas flow exhaust. Thisillustrates the valve 1130 in the position for maximal restriction ofgas egress and the maximal positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP). Airescapes as a result of the holes in the flap valve. Valves 1130 can beconfigured for different amounts of ventilation during expiration by thesize and number of holes. For example, FIGS. 13B and 13C illustrate twoviews of flap valve 1110 in an open position as would occur if the airsupply from the supply source was insufficient for respiratory demandduring inhalation. This could occur during machine failure, or if thegas delivery rate was set too low. The flap valve 1110 acts as a safetyfeature to assure that the patient can get sufficient air in the case ofa setting error or machine failure. FIG. 13D illustrates a top down viewof the valve assembly 1110 with the cover 1134 in the closed position.Cover 1134 is configured in this embodiment to rotate to be closed asshown in FIG. 13D, or open as illustrated in FIGS. 13E, 13F and 13G, orto be partially open.

FIGS. 13E, 13F and 13G illustrate a cutaway side view of the valveassembly 1110 in the full open position where the flap valve 1110 is notin use. The arrows 1141 in FIG. 13E illustrate gas flow. FIG. 13Fillustrates the underside (the airway side) with the flap valve 1130covered by the cover 1134. FIG. 13G illustrates the outer cover 1134component which is configured to rotate to vary the opening of theassembly. By rotating the cover 1134, shown as dark grey on the superiorsurface of the valve assembly 1110, the PEEP may be adjusted.

While the invention has been described in terms of what is presentlyconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is tobe understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosedembodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover variousmodifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims, which are to be accorded with the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similarstructures.

Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded asillustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should beappreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the scope of the nasal maskassembly as defined by the following claims.

1. A connector configured for connecting to an artificial airway, theconnector comprising: an inlet conduit configured to receive suppliedrespiratory gas; an outlet conduit configured to allow exhaled gas toexit to ambient during use; an artificial airway side conduit configuredto couple to an artificial airway; and, a restrictor coupled with theoutlet conduit.
 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the restrictor is avariable restrictor.
 3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the restrictorincludes a flap valve.
 4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the flapvalve is configured to reposition.
 5. The connector of claim 3, whereinthe flap valve is configured to reposition during inhalation.
 6. Theconnector of claim 1, wherein the restrictor includes at least one holeconfigured to allow air to exit.
 7. The connector of claim 1, whereinthe restrictor includes a plurality of holes configured to allow air toexit.
 8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the restrictor is configuredto restrict gas during exhalation.
 9. The connector of claim 1, whereinthe restrictor is configured to increase pressure during exhalation. 10.The connector of claim 1, wherein the restrictor includes a cover. 11.The connector of claim 10, wherein the cover is repositionable.
 12. Theconnector of claim 10, wherein the cover is configured to facilitaterestricting gas flow.
 13. The connector of claim 10, wherein the coveris configured to facilitate varying pressure.
 14. The connector of claim10, wherein the cover is coupled on the ambient side of the connector.15. The connector of claim 10, wherein the cover position can beadjusted by the user.
 16. The connector of claim 1, further comprisingat least one of a sensor and sensing conduit.
 17. A connector configuredfor connecting to an artificial airway, the connector comprising: aninlet conduit configured to receive supplied respiratory gas; an outletconduit configured to allow exhaled gas to exit to ambient during use;an artificial airway side conduit configured to couple to an artificialairway; and, a reducer coupled with the outlet conduit.
 18. Theconnector of claim 17, further comprising at least one of a sensor andsensing conduit.
 19. A connector configured for connecting to anartificial airway, the connector comprising: an inlet conduit configuredto receive supplied respiratory gas; an outlet conduit configured toallow exhaled gas to exit to ambient during use; an artificial airwayside conduit configured to couple to an artificial airway; and, a safetyvalve.
 20. The connector of claim 19, further comprising at least one ofa sensor and sensing conduit.